About the Guild:

Meetings are held at the Sierra Presbyterian Church, 3603 M Street, Merced, every third Monday of the month at 7:00 PM unless otherwise noted.

Yearly dues are $25 or $20 for seniors.

Business meetings are one week after the general meeting and the time and location are announced at the meeting and published in the newsletter.

History:

Our guild celebrated its 20 year anniversary in 2005. From its early beginnings in March 1985 Marie Strait, along with a few long standing members such as Margaret Freed, Carol Berry, Cheron Adrian, Nora Wieland, and several other enthusiastic women established the Gateway Quilters’ Guild. Kathy Mauzy, one of the original members, designed the logo we still use today.

Now on the third Monday of each month, we join together to share stories and treasured quilts, listen to many nationally well-known quilters and have the opportunity to participate in numerous workshops. If you have an idea for a guest speaker or an activity, please contact the program chair.

In 1987 the GQG sponsored its own quilt show at the Merced Fairgrounds Pavilion again raffling another beautiful Opportunity Quilt. The GQG continues to sponsor quilt sows every other year during the first weekend in October transforming the pavilion at the Merced Fairgrounds into a warm glowing array of quilts and wearable arts.

Several years ago, the guild began sewing left over scraps and blocks into quilts to give to kids who were removed from their homes for one reason or the other, many of whom ended up in foster care. The idea was to give them something of their own to hold onto. Additionally, quilts are donated to Project Linus of Merced and A Woman’s Place. These quilts are known as Quilters’ Embrace quilts. To date over 400 quilts have been donated to those in need of a warm hug.

Each month we join together to share stories and treasured quilts, listen to many nationally well-known quilters and have the opportunity to participate in numerous workshops. The tradition of a quilt show every other year and the creation of a gorgeous Opportunity Quilt each year keeps the guild looking forward to another 20 years.